Chapter 6: B-17
Darkness swallowed the hallway.
Nia screamed.
Marcus immediately reached for her.
“I'm here.””
He pulled her close.
Elena fumbled for her phone.
“Marcus, we need to leave.””
“Not yet.””
“What?””
He stared toward the pantry.
“Someone put that photograph here.””
“I know.””
“They were inside the house.””
Elena's breathing quickened.
“We need to get Nia out.””
Marcus switched on his phone flashlight.
The beam cut through the darkness.
The pantry stood open.
Empty.
He moved toward it.
Elena grabbed his shoulder.
“Don't.””
Marcus looked back.
“Why?””
“Because that's what he wants.””
“What does he want?””
“You to follow the clues.””
Marcus stared at her.
“And you know where they lead.””
Elena looked away.
He stepped closer.
“B-17.””
She closed her eyes.
“Marcus.””
“What is B-17?””
“A room.””
“Where?””
“I don't know anymore.””
“Then why did you recognize the key?””
“Because I've seen it before.””
“When?””
Elena didn't answer.
Marcus's voice dropped.
“When?””
“The hospital.””
Marcus went still.
“You've been there.””
“Yes.””
“Recently?””
“No.””
“Then when?””
Elena looked toward Nia.
“Two years ago.””
Marcus shook his head.
“You said you found Nia at a storage building.””
“I did.””
“Then why were you at the hospital?””
“To find out what happened to her.””
“What did you find?””
Elena took a trembling breath.
“Records.””
“What records?””
“Birth records.””
Marcus stared.
“For Nia?””
“For you.””
Silence.
Marcus's face tightened.
“What does that mean?””
Elena stepped toward him.
“Your mother wasn't just visiting that hospital.””
“What was she doing?””
“She worked there.””
Marcus blinked.
“My mother was a nurse.””
“I know.””
“She retired years before Nia was born.””
Elena shook her head.
“She didn't retire.””
Marcus's expression changed.
“What are you saying?””
“She disappeared.””
“When?””
“The week after Nia was born.””
Marcus stared at her.
Nobody had ever told him that.
His mother had simply said she left the hospital.
He had believed her.
Elena whispered, “She wasn't working in the maternity ward.””
Marcus looked at the photograph.
“Then where?””
“Basement.””
His eyes moved to the key in his palm.
“B-17.””
Elena nodded.
“I found the room.””
“What was inside?””
“Files.””
“About Nia?””
“About you.””
Marcus's breathing stopped.
“Me?””
Elena nodded.
“There was a file with your name.””
“What did it say?””
“I didn't get to read all of it.””
“Why?””
“Because someone came in.””
“Who?””
“The man with the scar.””
Marcus stared at her.
“What did he do?””
“He told me to leave.””
“And you did?””
“I had Nia with me.””
“You left the file?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I found something else.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“What?””
Elena reached into her pocket.
Her fingers trembled as she pulled out a folded piece of paper.
She handed it to him.
Marcus opened it.
At the top was his full name.
Below it were several typed lines.
He read silently.
His face slowly changed.
“What is this?””
Elena whispered, “Your birth certificate.””
Marcus looked up.
“I already have a birth certificate.””
“Not this one.””
His eyes dropped back to the page.
The date was different.
The hospital was different.
And under *Mother*, his mother's name appeared.
Under *Father*—
There was no name.
Instead, a handwritten note had been added.
*PATERNITY WITHHELD BY REQUEST.*
Marcus stared.
“Who requested this?””
Elena shook her head.
“I don't know.””
He turned the page over.
There was another line.
*Subject was transferred at six weeks.*
Marcus whispered, “Transferred where?””
Elena's eyes filled.
“I couldn't find that part.””
A noise came from the hidden wall.
Marcus turned sharply.
Nia was staring into the darkness behind the panel.
“What is it?”” he asked.
She pointed.
“There.””
Marcus raised the phone light.
At first, he saw nothing.
Then the beam caught a small metal door at the back of the hidden space.
A lock.
B-17.
Marcus held up the key.
Elena grabbed his wrist.
“No.””
He looked at her.
“You're afraid of what's behind it.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
She whispered,
“Because that's where I found the first photograph.””
Marcus inserted the key.
The lock clicked.
Nia whispered, “Daddy…”
Marcus slowly turned the handle.
The little metal door opened inward.
Behind it was a narrow cavity filled with dusty boxes.
One box sat directly in the center.
Its lid was already open.
Inside were dozens of photographs.
Marcus stepped closer.
He lifted the first.
A baby.
The second.
Another baby.
The third.
His hands began shaking.
Every photograph showed children.
And every child had the same handwritten mark in the corner.
*R-17.*
Marcus picked up the last photograph.
His breath caught.
It showed his mother holding a newborn.
Beside her stood the man with the scar.
And in his mother's arms was a baby with Marcus's unmistakable eyes.
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On the back, one sentence was written:
*If Marcus ever finds this child, tell him the truth about what happened to his father.*
